Season Ticket Holder Spotlight: The Paniccia Family

Posted: Mar 22, 2021

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Join us in spotlighting some of our loyal and valued season ticket holders. This week features the Paniccia Family. Rachel and Mario Paniccia are men's basketball season ticket holders with their two sons, Nicholas and Michael.

How long have you been a Santa Clara fan?

We have been fans for at least 10 years now.

How did you become a Santa Clara Broncos fan?

Our family became Santa Clara Bronco fans in a different way than most fans. Our two boys were in grade school and loved basketball. We were not Santa Clara University alumni and we did not even grow up in the Bay Area. The head coach at the time (Kerry Keating) held multiple basketball camps for kids and allowed his own players to give back to the community and to be in charge of kids grouped together by age and ability. We loved the camps so much that the boys kept attending every available camp that was offered. At this point, we decided to go see a game. Our boys loved seeing the players they had gotten to know through camp. The head coach had a wonderful idea to allow his players to sign a team poster after every home game. Our signed posters still sit on our son's dressers years later. Our kids also enjoyed being invited down to the court to shoot baskets following the games. We have continued to support Santa Clara Athletics because Santa Clara has become "home" to us.

What made you decide to continue to support Santa Clara Athletics?

We met a very special basketball player, Andrew Papenfus, during our second year at basketball camp who suffered a seizure that summer. Our boys loved this player and we became family friends. Andrew made a full recovery and even played on senior night during his senior year. Through Andrew we met other players and began friendships with them as well. These close friendships resulted in our family becoming a part of Santa Clara University and our oldest son now attends Santa Clara as a freshman in engineering.

What was the most memorable game you've been too?

Our most memorable game was when Andrew Papenfus took the floor for the first time since his brain injury. His parents and grandparents had come from Colorado to see him play and there was not a dry eye in the stands. He showed us determination and grit and faith in God like we have never seen before.

Have you seen any famous people at Santa Clara home games? If so, who?

While at the games, we have met Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors Head Coach) and Bud Ogden whose jersey lives up in the rafters of the basketball arena (#34).

What do you miss most about attending Santa Clara Athletics games?

Santa Clara has a special place in our hearts and we really have enjoyed being Bronco fans all of these years. We have met wonderful people and we have made lasting friendships thanks to Santa Clara University. We miss the family time of going to the games together. We miss the action of seeing the game being played live. We miss everything about the experience of being at a basketball game.